Here's a quick reference to what mine looks like. I've been playing it for awhile. I keep making other decks and tweaking Zirilan as I go, so that list is about 10-15% different.
Hoardsmelter cost a lot, but it's solid reason to look for mana doublers. Of course, not the Might. I don't run it either.
You can view wheels two ways; Reds best draw spell and disruption. We can't sculpt our hands like other people. I've never been a big fan of single draw/discard unless I'm playing reanimator. I sit back and think 'Im done with all this' and draw 7 more.
For Bandit Lord, my deck thrives on the mid game. Once I hit 5 mana, people either throw removal at me, or get dragons to the face. Late game gets rough once people establish a board or get the spells they need to slow me down. It's why I like being able to give anything haste. Sending in a double-striking Hellkite Igniter. I think I hit someone for 313 damage once they let their defense down for a turn. (because I could, that's why)
Dragon Mage, Knollspine Dragon might make for good wheel effects. Personally, I'm pulling Knollspine from my deck. He sees little to no use every game.
Cold Storage is a good recycle effect. Sac at instant speed so there's minimal threat to exiling everything. Belbe's Portal is a favorite of mine, but I'm tribal. Quicksilver Amulet for the same effect.
Hall of the Bandit Lord has done me a lot of good. "That creature has haste" is sometimes overlooked. Haste doesn't wear off so you can throw Ziril out on a cluttered board and Worldgorger during the inevitable Cyclonic Rift your opponent bought back last turn, or the two It that Betrays that Kiki sent your way. (Worldgorge dragon is bestest dragon)
I'm not sold on your high curve of non-dragons, but I've no idea what your meta is like and how all that extra draw is going to work. I built mine as a tribal deck and it's my favorite deck overall.
I like this idea. Probably more than I should, but I like it enough that I just might try my own. Sometimes the more fragile ideas need a little Imp's Mischief to help it out.
Using your general as a tool box is what the deck does. Saving your board with this tool box isnt a gimmick, it's how the deck can function to win a game. If you think losing Zirilan is going to shut you out, then imagine losing all your ramp and Zirilan to an austere command and having to pay 7-9-11 to get him back. It's the ultimate shutout for this deck. I don't know about you, but in a removal heavy meta I can usually smell a wrath coming. Hell, I've used gorger to save only a caged sun so I could come back and win next turn. Not to mention he can 'scapeshift' someone with valakut for a kill or a decent sweeper.
A dragon is a beat. Having one or two in the deck that hits players instead of nuke creatures and is capable of winning the game isn't a bad thing. Moonveil can come down the turn after Utvara and kill.
I totally understand where youre coming from, but don't dismiss the potential without using it.
Hall of the Bandit Lord has frequently been a part of setting up kills. The haste doesnt wear off at EoT so you can make good response times.
Hellkite Igniter...lackluster? Youre running 25 artifacts. He's a one-shot dragon that doesn't need extra effort to set up.
WORLDGORGER, GORGER OF WORLDS! This card is a MVP. Seriously. Unless your table is running a bunch of stifle effects, get this in your list ASAP. Being able to respond to any and all board wipes then sit back as the only person with creatures...
Cyclonic Rift? GORGED.
Wrath? K. GORGED IT.
Kiki swings with dual It That Betrays? TROLOLGORGED & DOUBLEGORGED.
Gorger is also a big reason why 1k year-elixir is still in my deck. Good response tool.
I could probably go on for awhile and give pros and cons on every pick and cards I feel dont work/synergize with the goal of Ziril. Just enjoy the hell out of the deck. I'll probably update my list this week in the database so feel free to ask me for opinions.
This guy did wonders for me in my Zirilan deck when I got trading post out. I think I fished out 6 land before someone decided to stop it. The dangers of giving mono-red consistent mana.
Answers to indestructible is, in my opinion, a great tool and often necessary.
Black Sun's is one of my personal favorite. Even if you didn't/don't want to kill the general about to swing for the lethal, setting it to 1 power or even 0 can be an amazing play.
I'm going to agree with the above on discarding damage. You can't just let people get away with discarding for free. Make them hurt. Filling their hands is usually going to end up in discarding. Wheels discard. That's a lot of extra damage going to waste. With that said, some minor land destruction to take out reliquary tower won't hurt. Land to land strip mine style or multi-task like Pillage. RKF Pillage to be precise.
I plan on making a very similar deck this week and hopefully my group won't mind the proxy general.
I run several draw and mold cards with Melek. Several of the ones listed above and some others that cost 2 and 3 mana. Dream Cache does a good job at getting rid of cards you'd rather tutor for later, as does Telling Time.
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Worldgorger Dragon at instant speed. Cyclonic rift? Sure, ill untap and return him to my hand. Thanks!
Hoardsmelter cost a lot, but it's solid reason to look for mana doublers. Of course, not the Might. I don't run it either.
You can view wheels two ways; Reds best draw spell and disruption. We can't sculpt our hands like other people. I've never been a big fan of single draw/discard unless I'm playing reanimator. I sit back and think 'Im done with all this' and draw 7 more.
For Bandit Lord, my deck thrives on the mid game. Once I hit 5 mana, people either throw removal at me, or get dragons to the face. Late game gets rough once people establish a board or get the spells they need to slow me down. It's why I like being able to give anything haste. Sending in a double-striking Hellkite Igniter. I think I hit someone for 313 damage once they let their defense down for a turn. (because I could, that's why)
This deck is slow. It's red. And it's fun.
Dragon Mage, Knollspine Dragon might make for good wheel effects. Personally, I'm pulling Knollspine from my deck. He sees little to no use every game.
Cold Storage is a good recycle effect. Sac at instant speed so there's minimal threat to exiling everything. Belbe's Portal is a favorite of mine, but I'm tribal. Quicksilver Amulet for the same effect.
Hall of the Bandit Lord has done me a lot of good. "That creature has haste" is sometimes overlooked. Haste doesn't wear off so you can throw Ziril out on a cluttered board and Worldgorger during the inevitable Cyclonic Rift your opponent bought back last turn, or the two It that Betrays that Kiki sent your way. (Worldgorge dragon is bestest dragon)
Gauntlet of Power, Gauntlet of Might, Caged Sun. Mana doublers are the best way to 'go off' in this deck.
I'm not sold on your high curve of non-dragons, but I've no idea what your meta is like and how all that extra draw is going to work. I built mine as a tribal deck and it's my favorite deck overall.
Did you read the article or just the title?
A dragon is a beat. Having one or two in the deck that hits players instead of nuke creatures and is capable of winning the game isn't a bad thing. Moonveil can come down the turn after Utvara and kill.
I totally understand where youre coming from, but don't dismiss the potential without using it.
Id replace Mordant Dragon with Moonveil Dragon. Mordant was hardly relevant and Moonveil ends games.
Hall of the Bandit Lord has frequently been a part of setting up kills. The haste doesnt wear off at EoT so you can make good response times.
Hellkite Igniter...lackluster? Youre running 25 artifacts. He's a one-shot dragon that doesn't need extra effort to set up.
WORLDGORGER, GORGER OF WORLDS! This card is a MVP. Seriously. Unless your table is running a bunch of stifle effects, get this in your list ASAP. Being able to respond to any and all board wipes then sit back as the only person with creatures...
Cyclonic Rift? GORGED.
Wrath? K. GORGED IT.
Kiki swings with dual It That Betrays? TROLOLGORGED & DOUBLEGORGED.
Gorger is also a big reason why 1k year-elixir is still in my deck. Good response tool.
I could probably go on for awhile and give pros and cons on every pick and cards I feel dont work/synergize with the goal of Ziril. Just enjoy the hell out of the deck. I'll probably update my list this week in the database so feel free to ask me for opinions.
Black Sun's is one of my personal favorite. Even if you didn't/don't want to kill the general about to swing for the lethal, setting it to 1 power or even 0 can be an amazing play.
I plan on making a very similar deck this week and hopefully my group won't mind the proxy general.
Good to know it's a thing, I guess.
Here's to 15 new commanders.
Both wizards and birds have some really fun tech. Id love to see some dual-tribal decks with this.